2016 Top Safety Picks
Vehicles that perform best in our evaluations qualify for Top Safety Pick, which has been awarded since the 2006 model year, or Top Safety Pick+, which was inaugurated in 2013.
These awards identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones. Thus, a small car that qualifies for an award might not protect its occupants as well as a bigger vehicle that doesn't earn the award.
Small cars
Top Safety Pick
2016 Chevrolet Sonic 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick+
2017 Chevrolet Volt 4-door hatchback
with optional front crash prevention
Midsize cars
Top Safety Pick+
2016 Chevrolet Malibu 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention
Top Safety Pick
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Limited 4-door sedan
with optional front crash prevention and available only to fleets
Midsize SUVs
Top Safety Pick
2016 Chevrolet Equinox 4-door SUV
with optional front crash prevention
2016 criteria
To qualify for 2016 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in five crashworthiness tests — driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraints — as well as a basic rating for front crash prevention.
To qualify for 2016 Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must earn good ratings in those five crashworthiness tests and an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.
Vehicles with optional front crash prevention qualify for either award only when equipped with the technology.